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Sunday, December 3, 2017

A forbidden rose and deadly sacrifice.
A glittering sword and living melody.
A stolen stormestone and detestable pardon.
The war in Aslaria, founded in ancient legends, changes the lives of those it touches forever.

Fairy tales retold as you have never heard them before.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Hope Ann is a speculative fiction writer who lives on a small farm in northern Indiana. She has self-published three Legends of Light novellas and writes regular articles for Kingdom Pen as the Writing Team Captain. Reading since the age of five, and introducing herself to writing at age eight, she never had a question that the author’s life was the life for her. Her goal is to write thrilling Christian fantasy and futuristic fiction — stories she longed for while growing up. After graduating from homeschool, Hope now teaches writing to several of her eight younger siblings. She loves climbing trees, archery, photography, Lord of the Rings, chocolate, and collecting shiny things she claims are useful for story inspiration.

A year or so I reviewed The Song of the Sword, a beautiful retelling of Rapunzel. I can't say that it's my favorite retelling of that tale that I've ever read, but it's one of the three vying for that position.

So, when she announced that she was releasing the first three books + the prequel of this series in one shiny volume, I was needless-to-say enthused, and I volunteered to review the book for her.

It took me a while to get to it, and then I devoured the whole thing in a day and a half. Ish. Somewhere in there. In short, I loved it. This is the best series ever. Everyone and their dog should read it.

So, quick breakdown:

Rose of the Night: The prequel story to the Beauty and the Beast tale. This was an intriguing tale. I have an obsession with reimaginings of the Fall, and this was a pretty good one. It really fit well with the mythos of this world, and was pretty good set-up for Rose of the Oath, which followed it.

Rose of the Oath: Of the books in this set, this is the one I'm mixed on. And it's largely because it replaced a different retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It's the rare retelling of B&B that I can get excited about (I don't have anything against them, I just ... they don't appeal to me), and I had actually liked Rose of Prophecy, as the previous version had been entitled. And I hadn't actually realized that she'd replaced RoP until several pages into RotO.

In defense of RotO, it was a stronger story and fit better with the world's mythos ... but, on the other hand, while RoP had been a breath of sweet air by following the original version of B&B, RotO ... hit more of Disney's beats. And that's one of my biggest peeves when it comes to any retelling period: retelling Disney (Disney is, itself, a retelling, and therefore copyrighted!). But it was only a few beats, so I think that I have forgiven it. Not my favorite in the collection, but it was a beautiful story.

And also the only romance.

The Song of the Sword: I love it and you can read my review for it here: http://oscarlettreviews.blogspot.com/2016/08/song-of-sword-legends-of-light-by-hope.html

Shadows of Hearsweald: Now this was an interesting story, and probably, of the collection, the book that followed its fairy tale the loosest. After all, H and G (can't remember their modified names off the top of my head and I'm too tired to look them up), are older - she's already engaged, and he's had time to be an ex-soldier of Tauscher's. There's no candy house or witch to eat them ... and H and G are step-siblings - the stepmother is H's actual mother. They're also cousins, though, but I failed to catch which of the deceased parents had been siblings.

I rather liked this one, though, due to the loose approach it took to the fairy tale and how condensed the story world was ... there were a lot of details that I didn't catch, and thus I'm confused on a lot of issues (Such as, again, whose sibling was whose in the parental department.) That said, it was a strong and powerful story of forgiveness and the Peace that can come of it.

On the whole, I'm thoroughly in love with this collection. Fairy tales + the fruit of the spirit? Wait, didn't I mention that each of the stories was centered around the various fruits? Love, Joy, Peace. Each beautifully illustrated. I loved it. Also, allegory.

I think, really, the only quibble I have with the collection (beyond those I've already mentioned) is that all four stories use the same plot twist. But they're plot twists that made sense for the tales they were telling, so ... I'll let it be. They were awesome.

Genre/Theme: Christian, Fantasy, Retelling,

Reading Level:TEEN- upper elementary to middle schoolProfanity:NONE- no offensive languageSexuality:NONE- not even hinted atOther: Quite a bit of fighting, scars, people die.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

“I, Calandra, of the Wingans, do bestow upon you, the Princess of Hanover, a gift. You have been given long life. I cannot interfere with that, but when you are sixteen years of age, you will prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into an everlasting sleep.” She stepped closer so that she could be heard only by Liesel and her parents. “Then you will at last see the truth. Be wary. Be wise. Your fate rests upon yourself.”

On her sixteenth birthday, Princess Liesel Rosanna falls victim to a sleeping curse—but wakens in another world, a prisoner of war. As the bait in a trap for her fiancé, the crown prince of Hanover, Liesel longs to escape back to the fairy tale world. The world where she is only wanting a true love’s kiss to set everything to rights.

As situations quickly grow dire, Liesel must choose which story to live, which life is real. The fate of her country rests on her decision.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. To learn more about Morgan and her work, visit: www.morganhuneke.com or www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra E. Ardnek

When Morgan announced that she was working on a Sleeping Beauty retelling for the Rooglewood contest, I was excited. I love Morgan's writing, and I love retellings, so I was eager to see how they combined.

Unfortunately, her book didn't win ... but that meant that we got the story later, all on its own with its own brilliance. Quick disclaimer here - I did beta read the book for her, which, for me, meant that I gave it a stiff edit. So I've read the story multiple times, and in multiple versions.

And Twisted Dreams is delightfully brilliant and twisted. It starts as a traditional retelling of Sleeping Beauty - with an opening that rather reminded me of Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine - but even within that opening, you quickly realize that there is something very wrong. The Catileens giving gifts are the ones who seem sinister, while the Wingan granting the curse ... seems benevolent.

Things grow even stranger when the curse comes about and Liesel wakes up in a cell in a sci-fi world, now remembering a very different past. And a fiance who's the prince of the planet/country that is at war with her captors. They're holding her for extortion.

But which is the true reality?

I loved this story, it's morals, message, and twists. I'll admit that there are a few blandish characters ... but there was Matthew, the hero's younger brother. Oh, the dear, enthusiastic boy. Read the book just for him.

The worldbuilding was brilliant. For the shortness of the story, there's a surprising amount of worldbuilding in it - and as someone who loves worldbuilding, it made me so happy.

And then the theme - Sacrificial love. I love a good story of sacrificial love.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?

Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?

As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?

About the Author (from Amazon)

Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again - starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels.

If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

Have you ever read a fairy tale and had the thought, "You know what? This would be so much better without the romance. And, hey, while we're at it, let's toss out the magic, too!"?

Well, those aren’t thoughts that I’ve ever had, specifically, but I am always looking for fairy tales told in new and intriguing ways. When I heard of Amanda Tero’s Befriending the Beast, a story where the “beast” was the heroine’s father, rather than love interest, I knew I needed to read it. There aren’t many B&B retellings – much less B&B retellings stripped of magic – that I actually like. This twist, though, was unique enough to intrigue me.

Then the author contacted me asking if I’d like to participate in the blog tour for the sequel, a retelling of Cinderella where the prince was Cinderella’s father. I signed up to review, as well receive a copy of the first book, which I loved just as much as I thought that I would, then I plunged eagerly into Secret Slipper.

This story directly follows the events of Befriending the Beast, but is about Lord Raoul, the uncle with whom Belle had lived following her own mother’s death. He had lost his wife and only daughter to a plague years before, and while he had remarried, his second wife provided him with no children. For a time, Belle had filled that hole in his heart, but now she has returned to her own father and Raoul's home is empty again.

Until he receives a message that states that his daughter might be as dead as he'd believed. That she had instead been spirited away by a spiteful servant who blamed Raoul for her husband's death. Raoul immediately begins his search, dropping everything for the chance at having his child back.

Meanwhile, Lia has led a pretty miserable life as her "stepmother" has continued to take her annoyance for Raoul out on her. They've run short on money, and Lia is the one forced to get a job to support them. Even though she has a club foot and can barely hobble about.

This was a delightfully unique take on the fairy tale. There's no ball, no glass slipper scene, but it's touching and heartfelt all the same. The rags-to-riches story of redemption is ever so much stronger and more powerful when it's the father stepping in for his daughter than it is when it's a love interest that the girl meets for the first time in a rushed ball. Amanda tells her stories without shame for her faith, and the story of redemption is told clearly, even as it's shown. The characters are diverse and interest, with many different motives and struggles.

While this is the second book of the series, and it does directly follow the events of Befriending the Beast, it can be read first without majorly spoiling its predecessor. It was a delightful tale, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Cinderella retellings and stories of faith.

Genre/Theme: Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling, Christian

Reading Level:TEEN- upper elementary to middle schoolProfanity:NONE- no offensive languageSexuality:NONE- not even hinted atOther:Kidnapping, bit of fighting, a guy gets killed. Lia is mistreated, but such is normal for Cinderella.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Jamie and Yoshi are late twentieth century members of the Funakoshi ninja clan who were trained by Yoshi’s uncle, Tanemura Funakoshi. When the Waruiyatsu, a sinister clan with an ancient grudge, attack Jamie’s high school and hold his classmates hostage in an effort to bring Tanemura and his two students into the open, Jamie and his clan sister are forced to attempt a rescue.

Going along are a close group of friends, each with his own interest in the fighting arts. From Dave, whose muscle-bound frame and love of a good scuffle are overshadowed by his cheerful personality and kind heart, to Buster, whose Bible is his greatest weapon, each of their friends has a loyalty to them and each other that is stronger than the Waruiyatsu can ever fathom.

This is a story of courage, friendship, and faith ....

About the Author (from Amazon)

Jeffrey Allen Davis was born on March 2, 1975, in St. Charles, MO.The youngest of three boys, he was sheltered by his loving mother. Instead of going out to parties when he was in high school, he stayed at home and watched 80s ninja movies or played RPGs with his fellow geeks (a term that he uses affectionately). These experiences have found their way into his writing. His first book, "Invasion of the Togakura", was released in 2003 by Publish America. It's sequel, "Klandestine Maneuvers", was published by the same company in 2005. After a five-year hiatus from publishing, Davis founded a new press for his third book, "Lily's Redemption." A rewrite of his first book, retitled "Invasion of the Ninja," was released in 2013.

Davis is a licensed Baptist preacher and lives in the St. Louis area with his wife, daughter and two stepchildren. http://www.jeffreyallendavis.tk

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

A few years back, Jeffery Davis contacted me, asking if I would review his book, and I agreed, since the premise of a Christain Ninja novel appealed to me, not so much because I enjoy ninjas, but because I have cousins who do, and I wanted to see if it was a book that I could give to them.

I started the book right away, and finally finished it a few months ago, feelings very mixed. It wasn't entirely the book's fault that it took me so long to read it - I switched kindles in the middle of it, and since it was a review file, it wasn't easy for me to skip ahead through the book to where I'd left off. It wasn't until late last year that I was given my old kindle back and was able to finish the book. Still, since I wasn't interested in burrowing through the book to find my place, it meant that I wasn't invested - and I was halfway through the book. I should have been invested by that point.

Honestly, I think that the premise still holds a lot of promise. A ninja tribe converted to Christianity, but decide to retain their traditions and skills (the ones that don't involve mysticism, that is). I've been toying with a people group who did the exact same thing in one of my own books. The further premise that they're being attacked by one of their old rivals, I loved that, too.

The problem with this book is a problem I see in many Christian books. It tries to do too much. Address all of the issues. As a result, the characters are molded to bring issues, rather than the issues brought up in response to the characters. There was a huge cast, but the only one whose name I can remember is Yoshi, and there are only a few distinct personalities that I can pick out from the rest of the crowd. I have a good memory when it comes to books. I don't forget people. But I was so meh about all of these characters that only the main character and the preacher kid, and the preacher kid's love interest stand out in my mind. Oh, and Yoshi's ... uncle, I believe it was.

The main character, Jamie (just referred to the book's description to get his name...), is an American kid who was honorarily adopted by Christian Ninja tribe after a run-in with thugs a few years back where he showed fighting promise. Now he keeps quiet about his ninja skills at school ... until a bully pushes him over the edge. Oh, and then the rival tribe shows up and besieges them in school.

After that, the book alternates between action scenes and conversations about Sensitive Topics.

Granted, these are important topics that need to be addressed, but this wasn't necessarily the best book for them. It felt as though the characters were built for the sole reason of talking about these issues. In short, it came out preachy. Even for a book with a preacher kid in it. There was even an awkward jab at abortion at the end that just ... fell flat.

I might have forgiven it, if it hadn't ignored the glaring issues that the book was MADE to address. Violence and the dangers of mysticism. There was a LOT of fighting. Sure, the characters would express remorse for outright killing, but they had no problems with knocking characters unconscious, which, contrary to popular belief, can potentially kill someone. If a knock to the head is hard enough to render you unconscious, it's enough to kill you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-fighting, and I knew what I was getting into. Giving that the enemies were trying to kill our characters, I don't blame them for fighting back. I just wanted there to be more than just a few moment's remorse, and an acknowledgement that they'd not come out of the incident the same when it was over.

Mysticism was addressed even less. A bit at the front of "oh, we don't follow those ways," and then at the end when a prophecy popped out of nowhere and uncle claimed that it might actually have weight.

And then the villains were ... faceless. They were there for no reason but to be fought. Oh, and they're trying to kill the main cast, and traumatized Yoshi when she was younger, but they had no individual personalities.

My other issue was the flashbacks. They're clearly marked, but I failed to notice and was seriously confused on the first one. Normally, I'd forgive them, since they're marked, but almost of the information you learn in the flashbacks is either pointless or it could have been just as easily conveyed in a three minute conversation elsewhere. I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks, though - I've rarely found a book with them that I felt handled it well - so this may be a me-issue.

I don't hate this book, and I don't feel that the time reading it was wasted. I'm just very meh about it. And I don't want to feel meh about a book.

Genre/Theme: Action/Adventure, Christian, Contemporary

Reading Level:TEEN- upper elementary to middle schoolProfanity:NONE- no offensive language, as far as I can remember, though glancing through the other reviews, it is stated that a character does swear, but his words aren't given.Sexuality:SUBTLE- hinted, but not explicit. Two of the characters have a discussion about waiting until marriage to have sex.Other:There is a LOT of fighting. I forget how graphic it was, though, because I tend to skim action scenes.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

The fate of Plenilune hangs on the election of the Overlord, for which Rupert de la Mare and his brother are the only contenders, but when Rupert’s unwilling bride-to-be uncovers his plot to murder his brother, the conflict explodes into civil war.

To assure the minds of the lord-electors of Plenilune that he has some capacity for humanity, Rupert de la Mare has been asked to woo and win a lady before he can become the Overlord, and he will do it—even if he has to kidnap her.

En route to Naples to catch a suitor, Margaret Coventry was not expecting a suitor to catch her.

About the Author (from Amazon)

JENNIFER FREITAG (1990 - ) is the author of Christian historical fiction (THE SHADOW THINGS), and planetary fantasy (PLENILUNE). She was born and raised in the piedmont of South Carolina, and lives there with her husband and daughter. Her literature opens up brave new worlds to her readers, and she continues to dedicate her time to the pursuit of writing.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

Having read Jenny's historical fiction The Shadow Things, and since her blog is one of my favorites to read, I knew I was going to love her newest book. I bought pre-order and plunged in as soon as it appeared on my Kindle.

It's a big book, and thus it took me a good few months to read properly. Jenny's writing isn't to be read in great gulps, and I had to ration myself properly. This isn't a story for the faint of heart.

I had known from The Shadow Things that Jenny doesn't shy away from the stark ugliness of human depravity, and this book was no exception. It's not a story for young readers, and there are a number of shocking incidents, some of which I'd have rather she'd left out.

The plot, at face value, seems to be that a Beauty and the Beast formula. Margaret is kidnapped and held captive by a less-than-kind fellow, who expects her to marry her. But then the fox shows up.

I can't say much about the fox, but he's one of my favorite characters. I might have been biased, because he shares many similarities with a fox character that I have in my own writing, but I agree with many of the other readers - this book is worth a read just for the fox.

The book takes place on the moon - though apparently not the moon that the Apollo astronauts visited, for, scenery-wise, the place is little different than earth. There are plants, forests, animals - indeed, it seemed to be the same plants, forests, and animals that we have on our own sphere - and there are houses and people and wars. Really, the only difference between the world of Plenilune and our own is that Plenilune has magic.

So I was a bit disappointed in the world building, though you really won't notice with the thickness of the writing.

I recommend this to older readers who are willing to slough through thick writing and have a stomach for some pretty nasty situations.

Genre/Theme: Planetary Fantasy, Romance, Christian

Reading Level:Mature TEEN- high school to college toADULT- self-explanatoryProfanity:MODERATE- It get worse as the book goes throughSexuality:MILD- Rupert kisses Margaret several times, once biting her in the process. There is a strong reference to the actual act, and towards the end a man is condemned for a pretty nasty sex crime (basically, the girl was dead).Other:It ... gets gory, especially the further the story goes. There are wars all through the final third, at which point I began skimming, so I'm not entirely sure exactly HOW bad it was - though I distinctly remember a guy getting his face sliced off - but I do know it didn't shy away from the ugliness of war.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom

About the Author (from Amazon)

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment. To learn more about Morgan and her work, visit: www.morganhuneke.com or www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

Well, here it is, at last, the final volume of the Time Captives trilogy. Please pay no mind to the shattered pieces of my heart that are scattered over the floor.

The Time Captives is one of the most unique portal fantasies that I've ever read. So much so that I have harped on the author for the "next book" since I read the first one, and she has obligingly sent me beta copies in exchange for my feedback. This book was no exception, and then she also sent me an ARC to review. (Which I then ignored and just preordered the book and read it again as soon as it appeared on my kindle.)

It's hard to believe that this series has come to an end already, and while I'm thrilled to finally know how it ends, there's a large part of my that's in denial that it's over. And I might be plotting a fanfic.

The story begins directly after the events of the previous book, and it's time to do what the Time Captives were sent to Calhortz to do - free the people from the strytes' oppresive rule and instate the true king. Of course, there is the fact that the strytes have a large army and that will be an issue.

The first half of the book deals with gathering allies. Some are easy to convince, but are small in number, such as the elves, merfolk, and kalicans. The events of the companion novel, Espionage, come into play as they seek the aid of the neighboring country of Briznom. Then there are the true people of Briznom - who have been made slaves.

The second half of the book deals with what happens when things go terribly wrong while seeking the aid of the slaves.

There were some intense moments in the previous books, but this final volume took it to a whole new level. Since the Time Captives are all together now, it is no longer necessary for them to be held in place in time, so now they can change, age, be injured, and ... unfortunately ... die. If you're an emotional reader, bring tissues.

There are a LOT of characters in this trilogy, but most of them are well develloped and have their moments to shine. Most of them go through excellent character devellopment. Some will annoy you, others are endearing, a few will break your heart.

The message was excellent, though I think that the worldbuilding surrouding how Christianity fits into the world could and should have been stronger. It wasn't bad, and fine for younger readers, but it was never really explained - you were given the general notion that it's simular to how it is in our world, but it was never explained why. My take is that the people came from our world originally and the customs carried over, but it was never discussed.

However, while the history of the world could have been much better (you learn practically nothing past when the strytes came in and conqured Calhortz), all other aspects of the worldbuilding were much better. Diverse cultures and rich landscapes and geography abound. It's well worth a visit.

If you love Christain Fantasy or Portal fantasy, this is a book you don't want to miss.

Genre/Theme: Fantasy, Portal Fantasy, Christian

Reading Level:CHILD- children's literature toTEEN- upper elementary to middle schoolProfanity:NONE- no offensive languageSexuality:NONE- not even hinted atOther:There's quite a bit of fighting in this book. Nothing is really described, but injuries, and even deaths, happen.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

In a kingdom where fauna and flora are held in higher esteem than breakfast, Dmitri is a prince who yearns for change and plans it in a single daring act that will alter his life forever. However, when his demented mother accidentally causes the destruction of a prized garden of roses, Dmitri is horrified when she proposes his hand in marriage to make up for it. Not only will a wife hamper his glorious plans, he doesn't even want one.

Janelle has spent her whole life on her father's rose farm, tending the roses and staying simple. But she really yearns for something greater than the flower beds. But now there's a wrench thrown in the works – the crazy Queen Maeva wants her to marry the prince, and all for ruining her father's beloved roses.

This is Beauty and the Beast with a twist like you've never seen it before.

About the Author (from Amazon)

No author description available

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

Have you ever watched Disney's Beauty and the Beast and thought to yourself, "This could use a bit less magic."? If so, then this is the book for you.

Anyone who has known me for any amount of time knows that I love fairy tales. However, Beauty and the Beast is that one fairy tale that's very hit and miss for me, and I've so far only found a handful of retellings of if that I actually liked, and one was a Hidden Object Adventure game.

However, having read a good deal of the author's unpublished work and absolutely loved it, when she told me that she wanted to publish her Beauty and the Beast story, I was willing to give it a try and encouraged her to publish it, and then signed up for the review.

Well, I didn't dislike it. And, perhaps, I would have liked it more had I not then followed it up by reading an absolutely amazing retelling of Rapunzel that very day. In fact, I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys the story of Beauty and the Beast.

If this hadn't been labeled with Beauty and the Beast, I probably would have loved it, despite a slightly awkward rushing of the conflict's resolution and a slight lack in backstory setup - this author was made to write long books, and I would have loved to have seen this story been given a bit more space.

There was one glaring problem that I had with the story: It's not a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It's a reimagining of the Disney movie.

I don't dislike the Disney movie. It's not my favorite, but it's not bad, either. However, it does bother me when people forget that it IS ITSELF A RETELLING. It's not the original fairy tale, in fact, it's VERY different from the original tale.

However, there were really only one or two moments where the similarities were very glaring, and they were only made obvious by the inclusion of "Beauty and the Beast" on the cover, so as I said, I don't dislike the story, and I do recommend it. If nothing else, read it for the antics of the prince's mother who's a bit ... touched in the head, and his twin younger siblings, Nicolas and Nicolette. Those younger two made the story, and I'd love to read a book all about them.